Hamas re-elects Meshaal

EX-HARDLINER:Nations in Europe and the Middle East supported Khaled Meshaal retaining his post, as he is increasingly seen as a moderate in the organization

Reuters, GAZA

Two years ago he faced down angry Gazans by voicing support for Abbas’ peace moves with Israel, though he remained sceptical whether the negotiations frozen since 2010 would ever secure the Palestinian goal of independent statehood.

More recently, Meshaal was involved in indirect talks with Israel mediated by Egypt, striking a truce that has largely silenced fighting along the Israel-Gaza frontier since a deadly eight-day conflict four months ago.